Maximizing quality of life for women of (any) size

"Become all you are, today; don't wait to be less"

Declaration of Fat Independence

On July 4 I received the following "Declaration of Fat Independence" through the network of size-positive email lists, including Marilyn Wann's FAT!SO?; it is reprinted here with permission of the author, who wishes to be known only by her first name.

Please click on Comments below and say what you think of this Declaration. Are you ready for today, and every day, to be your Independence Day?

AmpleHugs,Anne

Declaration of Fat Independenceby Katharhynn

Ever notice how merchants use the Fourth of July to peddle their wares?
"Celebrate freedom, buy a TV," and all that? Well, the purveyors of
commercial diets are no exception. An email I received yesterday from
one of them is the inspiration for this posting.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, That all people, fat and thin, short and tall, are created equal;
That unalienable rights apply to all sizes.

And when a long train of abuses and usurpations in pursuing the impossible, constantly changing ideal of "beauty" as defined by others, evinces a design to reduce both our rights andour bank accounts, under despotism masked as "health,"

It is our right and duty to reject conventional "wisdom" and label it as the (frequently misogynistic) mythology that it is.

Let facts be submitted to a candid world:

The diet industry has lied time and again.

The diet industry's paid shills have lied time and again.

By these lies, society--including the targets of these lies, to wit, fat people--have been seduced,by their own statements, preferring even death over fat (though the rationale behind fat hatred is the lie that fat will cause death...).

Because of these lies, most states have refused to pass other laws for the fair treatment--not special rights--of large people.

Because of these lies, total strangers feel compelled to judge and vilify fat people.

Because of these lies, something mostly harmless is now called an "epidemic".

Because the lies have given rise to junk science used to deny fat people the liberties and rights others enjoy, including their very peace of mind;

Because the diet industry and its shills have erected a multitude of new purveyors of their junk science and sent hither swarms of officers to harass fat people and reduce their substance;

In every stage of these oppressions, we have petitioned for redress in humble terms; our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury.

Therefore, we, the fat and free, declare ENOUGH.

We will not count calories, nor carbohydrates;We will not abuse ourselves based on what our scales say;Indeed, we will burn our scales.

Trips to the clothing store will not reduce us to tears, just because we are not the same size as a lifeless mannequin.We will not be compelled to starve ourselves based on the cruel comments of others, but instead recognize their cruelty is born of fear and stupidity, both fueled and justified by the lies detailed above.

It is not "failure" if we don't look like the images on magazine covers;We are not "ugly" just because we are not a size 0.

We are not evil, pathological, or in denial.

We simply demand to be treated fairly.We don't care if you like it; we don't care if you approve